The ruins of Iwamura Castle and the castle town

Walk
Walking Trips in Ena
Area 2
The ruins of Iwamura Castle
and the castle town
A hero and female castle load lived here.
Name of a housewife is on a short curtain in the historical town.
Town of the female castle load is filled with kindness and warmth.
Since it was built on the highest place (717m above sea) for a castle in Japan, the ruins of
Iwamura Castle have been selected as one of three major mountain castles in Japan. It
also has been selected as one of 100 superior castles in Japan. It was an impregnable
castle by taking advantage of the altitude and geographical features. The builders took
advantage of the unique foggy climate around the area in constructing the castle giving it
the nickname “Foggy Castle” . It lasted the Warring States period and 300 years of the
Edo period since its construction in 1185. It continued to stand about 700 years until the
government ordered to destroy all the castles in the Meiji period. One of the famous
1 The ruins of Iwamura Castle
lords of the castle was a woman called “Onna Joshu” and protected her vassals and The stone walls extend about 1.7km. About
people while she chose a political marriage. Although the castle is gone, the way the 40,000 stones are piled up. You can see three
ways of piling up stones.
stone walls and wells were made says much about the
technologies at that time. Materials about those technologies are restored
in History Museum.
The castle town is divided into two areas. Samurai residences are located
on the north side of Iwamura River and merchant residences are located
on the south side of it. You can find sea cucumber-patterned walls and
lattices which are iconic of the old ages here and there.
Walk along the historical
streets enjoying a gentle breeze.
The main street which extends from Iwamura Station to the ruins
of Iwamura Castle has been selected as “Important Preservation
Districts for Groups of Historic Buildings” . You can find a name
of each house’ s proprietress printed on a short curtain under
the eave which reminds you of the female lord of a castle. You
can learn unique ideas and skills of
ancient people in the structures of
wine cellars, sweetshops, and
kimono shops, as well as in sea
cucumber-patterned walls and
watercourses going under houses.
4 Katsukawa’ s House
5 Tosaya
This facility consists of two houses which are two story
buildings. The study, tea ceremony room and rooms
for employees tell about how they lived back then.
You can learn how people dyed kimono deep blue
at that time.
Free admission Closed on Tuesdays
Admission ￥200 Closed on Wednesdays
Sea cucumberpatterned walls
These walls are found in a
daimyo’ s residence and a
castle.
6 Kimura’ s House
The style of the Edo period still remains in this
house which reminds you of the history of the
castle town.
Admission ￥200 Closed on Mondays
Historical streets
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The old streets have been selected as one of 100
selections of beautiful historical landscapes in Japan.
These are the streets of merchant stores which played an important role in commercial
activities since modern times. Stately buildings indicate the prosperity at that time.
Historically valuable signboards still remain intact.
え な
Access
Ena
Higashino
Ena IC
●By Akechi Railway : 30 min from Ena Sta.
Iibama
Hanashiro
Yamaoka
Noshi
Akechi
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Stone pavement
Utako Shimoda’ s Study Room
Taiko-Yagura,
Front gate of Chishin-kan
To Kamiyahagi
Utako
Shimoda
3
P
Panoramic view of Iwamura Town
Iwamura Castle parking
History Museum
Photography
spot
Night-light
257
Lattice and ancient signboard
2 Utako Shimoda’ s
Sea cucumberpatterned wall
Study Room
Kimura’ s House
Utako Shimoda was a pioneer of a
female education as well as a poet from
the Meiji to the Showa period. This
building is a reconstruction of her study
room.
Tourist Information
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Taishojin Park
← To observation deck
for Best Agricultural Scenery
in Japan
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Tosaya 5
Iwamura branch office parking
Hand-made soba
4
Katsukawa’ s House
Iwamura Shrine
Kousatsuba
Gunsmith
He was born in 1772 as the
second son of a feudal lord.
He ser ved as a vassal of a
feudal clan and lear ned
Confucianism. The government regarded him as a
master of Confucianism. Educated people, cultured
people and politicians read his collection of sayings.
2
Photography
spot
Folk Museum
Issai Sato
Agi
Iwamura
Joshi Park
of famous people in Ena
Iinuma
●By car : 20 min from Ena IC
Ruins of Iwamura Castle
● A series of biographies
She was educated since her
childhood and composed
Japanese poems and Chinese
poems. When she was 19, she ser ved in the
Imperial Household Agency and her Majesty
considered her to be a talented poet. After that, she
was engaged in female education and established
schools for girls. She was a representative person of
female education in the Meiji and Taisho periods.
● Local Eats
You can find a sake distiller y and Japanese
sweets shops with traditional manufacturing
along the old streets. Enjoy the taste of the
old days with some handmade Soba or Udon
or relax in an old cafe.
Castella
Kankara-mochi Local sake
Main street
castella, Kiku-Gobo
Iwamura Tenmangu
Don’t
miss!
Tetrahedral tower
Iwamura Art Museum
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Kamono Chomei-zuka
hi
Akec
ay
Railw
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Iwamura Sta.
To Akechi Town
Ishimuro Sentai-butsu
To city area
3 History Museum
This is a museum which displays
materials of more than 800 years history
of Iwamura. It preserves “ Iwamura
Castle Illustration Map” and “ Self portrait
of Issai Sato” which are historically
valuable.
people 65 and over ￥200
high school and under free
For more information:
you can get “Iwamura Castle
Town Illustration Map” and
“Iwamura Guidebook”
at Iwamura Station,
tourist infor mation,
and etc.
The entrance area of the ruins of Iwamura castle is
called “Joshi Park” . The ruins of Iwamura Feudal
Lord House, History Museum and Taiko-Yagura tell
a lot about the history
of the area. Ever y
A u g u s t, a torchlight
Front gate of Chishin-kan
When you walk along
the old streets, you find
those sayings here and
there.
Admission: general ￥400
Iwamura Joshi Park
performance of Noh is
played at the ruins of
Iwamura Feudal Lord
House.
A collection of
sayings by
Issai Sato
Taiko-Yagura
Inquire at
Ena City Tourist Association
Iwamura branch office
TEL 0573-43-3231
http://www.iw.vrtc.net/ fureai-yakata
/kankou/
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